Fledglings: Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka

Back in February, our teen book club, Fledglings, read Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka.

Celeste was born in Unity.  Taviana was brought into Unity from the outside.  Unity is an isolated community.  People live simple lives there as members of the Movement, a religious sect that practices polygamy.  Celeste wishes to believe and be pure of heart like her sister Nanette.  But Taviana’s stories have started Celeste asking questions and wondering about the world outside Unity.

Comments from the Fledglings:

- Introduced reader to a different culture.
- Made reader think and realize that people live by their beliefs.
- Gave insight into the life of religious sects and the lack of knowledge of the outside world.
- Enjoyed the three different perspectives, although at times the voices sounded too similar.
- Found the naivete of the women very upsetting.
- Felt that the author didn’t let Celeste reach her full potential.
- Wanted Celeste to run earlier
- Felt characters were shallow.
- Found language was unbelievable in points.
- Liked discussion potential.
- Liked three different narrators.
- Felt that the ending was rushed.

Final score: 6.8333333 out of 10

There’s still time to read the March selection before the meeting, though you can always come just to hear the discussion.  We’ll be talking about Fire by Kristin Cashore on Tuesday, March 20th at 4:30pm.

It’s not a peaceful time in the Dells.  Young King Nash clings to the throne, while rebel lords, in the north and south, build armies to unseat him.  War is coming.  The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves.

This is where Fire lives, a girl whose startling appearance is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Everyone…except Prince Brigan.

If you’re a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on March 12, 2012 at 2:07 pm  Leave a Comment  

Fledglings: I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

In the hubbub of the holiday season, we’ve fallen a bit behind on posting the reviews from Owlets and Fledglings, but as they say: better late than never.

The December selection for Fledglings was I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.

Ed Kennedy admits he is a screw up.  He drifted in school, didn’t go to university, and now drives a cab because it’s easy.  But all that changes when Ed is hailed a hero after stopping a bank robber.  And now he has received a card in the mail.  It lists times and addresses.  Should he follow them?  Ed is not sure what to do, or what it all means.

Comments from the Fledglings:

Liked the characters.
Characters had depth and reasoning.
Liked interchange between characters.
Found them believeable.
Ending was a bit confusing.
Opening chapters sucked the reader in.
The whole idea was intriguing.
Really liked the characters, the plot, the seting.
Believeable dialogue.
Very funny in places, poignant in others.
Even secondary characters were well done.
Kept interest to very end.
Even the stinky dog was great.
Very deep book, multi-leveled.
Really like the author’s self insertion.

Final score: 8.8928571 out of 10.

The next meeting for Fledglings will be on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.  The book up for discussion is Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.

From the book’s description:

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 3, 2012 at 2:34 pm  Leave a Comment